by Subhashini Pathmanathan

Swamimalai Rajarathinam Pillai.photo: The Hindu Archives

Nattuvanaars were the real mentors of Bharatha Natyam. But unfortunately the present generation Bharatha Natyam students have lost the opportunity to learn Bharatha Natyam under them. They were the masters in their field.

They not only taught dance to the students but they also imparted and developed the overall self confidence of their students. The rapport between the guru and the shisyas were very smooth.
Continue reading ‘Nattuvanaars: Traditional Teachers of Bharatha Natyam’ »

(text of Press Release issued by Lawyers representing Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake)

The media has quoted the Government Members of the Parliamentary Select Committee as having stated that they have found the Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake guilty of the 1st, 4th and 5th allegations in the impeachment motion while exonerating her of the 2nd and 3rd allegations.

Continue reading ‘Chief Justice Not Yet Given Copy of Evidence and Findings Against Her in Report by Govt MP’s of Select Committee say her Lawyers’ »

(Text of a press statement issued on December 12th by the Lawyers representing Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake)

The media has quoted the Government Members of the Parliamentary Select Committee as having stated that they have found the Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake guilty of the 1st, 4th and 5th allegations in the impeachment motion while exonerating her of the 2nd and 3rd allegations.

Continue reading ‘Chief Justice Yet to be Given Copy of Evidence and Findings Against her by Govt MP’s of Select Committee say her Lawyers’ »

By

Rajavarothayam Sampanthan M.P.

(Text of speech made in Parliament n December 7th 2012 by Tamil National Alliance Leader and Trincomalee District MP Rajavarothayam Sampanthan)

7th December, 2012

Thank you, Mr. Chairman,

The war that raged in the North and the East of Sri Lanka for several decades has come to an end more than three years ago. The Tamil people want to put the war behind them and they want to get on with their lives.

R. Sampanthan MP (file pic)

There seems to be a rather mistaken belief among some people in this country that the Tamil people want the armed forces out from the North and the East. That is not correct.
Continue reading ‘The Tamil Issue has Only Acquired Greater Moral Strength and Greater Legitimacy as a Result of the Demise of the LTTE’ »

by Elizabeth Haq

No one knows how many thousands of people died in Sri Lanka in 2009, the year that marked the end of a decades-long struggle between the Sri Lankan government and the secessionist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (known more commonly as the Tamil Tigers). Certainly, it was one of the bloodier conflicts that the world has witnessed in recent decades. But no one outside Sri Lanka really seems to care.

Continue reading ‘Why does the world ignore Sri Lanka’s crimes?’ »

General secretary of UNP, Tissa Attanayake issued a statement in response to the public statement made by the president yesterday that he was prepared to appoint an independent body to study the PSC report:

Continue reading ‘UNP Working Committee Wants Govt to Enact “Removal of Superior Court Judges (Special Provisions)” Bill’ »

By Salma Yusuf

Attitudes towards the human right to development are unusual. There is a general willingness to support such a right in theory, but less enthusiasm in adopting such a right in practice. This does not mean that states ignore the right to development completely in their policies, but rather tend to attach greater focus on the obligations that it places on other states: for developed states this may be due to apprehensions that subscribing to legally binding obligations will limit their sovereign powers; for developing states the issue may be a concern of costs associated with implementing the human right to development nationally. This has led to the current situation of a significant gulf between the rhetoric and practice accorded to the human right to development.

Continue reading ‘Translating the Human Right to Development from Rhetoric to Reality’ »

By

Karu Jayasuriya M.P.

(Brief Notes of the Press Conference held by Hon. Karu Jayasuriya-
UNP M.P. for Gampaha District on 12th December 2012)

• We listened to the Speech of the President on the occasion of the Opening of the New Building of the Chartered Accountants Association yesterday. Large majority of citizens, including myself, were amazed to hear the speech. However, we appreciate the declaration of the admission of the mistake.

Continue reading ‘“I Urge the Govt to Withdraw Charges Against Chief Justice Without Allowing Issue to Drag on”-Karu.J’ »

By

Dharisha Bastians

During the inauguration of a four-storey building for the Institute of Charted Accountants of Sri Lanka at Malalasekera Mawatha in Colombo, President Mahinda Rajapaksa blithely asserted that he would appoint an independent committee to review the report by the Parliamentary Select Committee submitted to Parliament on Saturday (8).

Continue reading ‘Mahinda “Retreats” on Impeachment of CJ Issue Leaving 117 MP”s and 7 Select Committee Govt MP”s in the Lurch’ »

Pandit Ravi Shankar, whose mastery over the sitar helped rejuvenate the classical instrumental tradition in India and popularise Indian music in the West through concerts and collaborations with well known artists, died in San Diego, U.S., on Wednesday.

Continue reading ‘Sitar Maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar Passes Away at 92 in the USA’ »

THOUGHTS FOR THIS CHRISTMAS In Lighter Vein from Sri Lanka!!!

– May your life be never ending like the current Presidency.

– May your happiness increase steeply, like the price of food.

– May all your worries disappear like that of G L Peiris
Continue reading ‘THOUGHTS FOR THIS CHRISTMAS In Lighter Vein from Sri Lanka!!!’ »

(This document contains recent developments affecting independence of judiciary Sri Lanka)

01. Threatening the Mannar Magistrate and attack on the Manner Magistrate Court and High Court

02. Response of the Government on the Supreme Court determination on “Divineguma Bill”

03. Interference with the JSC

04. Attack on Secretary JSC

05. Bribery Investigation against Chief Justice’s Husband
Continue reading ‘Recent developments Affecting Independence of Judiciary in Sri Lanka’ »

by Chandra Jayaratne

Open Letter to:

Anil Amarasuriya Esq.
Vice-Chairman,
Sri Lanka Banks’ Association (Guarantee) Ltd.
69, Janadhipathi Mawatha,
Colombo 1.

Dear Sir,

I write this note to you as a client and a shareholder of several commercial banks, who are members of your Association, a collective with a proud heritage and high recognition both in Sri Lanka and overseas.
Continue reading ‘How did Confidential Banking Information of Chief Justice Leak out?’ »

By Dharisha Bastians

President Mahinda Rajapaksa will appoint an independent panel to review the Parliamentary Select Committee report on the impeachment charges against Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake, as opposition to the fiasco gathers more steam.

President Rajapaksa, speaking at the inauguration of a new building for the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka) at Malalasekera Mawatha yesterday said he was not mandated by law to appoint an independent panel to perform the review, but was doing so to assuage his own conscience.
Continue reading ‘President Rajapaksa to Appoint Independent panel to review Select Committee report on Impeachment’ »

by Christopher Weeramantry

As the senior-most retired Judge in the country and as one who has been associated with the law both locally and internationally for 65 years I feel compelled to make some observations in regard to the current crisis facing the Sri Lankan Judiciary.

It is a Judiciary which has been a great pride to the country and has been highly esteemed both domestically and internationally
Continue reading ‘The Concept of Independence of the Judiciary is not a one – way Street Depending on Judges Alone’ »

by Trevor Grant

MICHAEL Atherton is a former captain of the England cricket team and now a skilled writer and commentator on the game. He is also a man of conscience.

Illustration: John Spooner – Courtesy: The Age

In 1995, an unashamedly racist article decrying the number of foreign-born players in the England team, including non-whites such Devon Malcolm and Phil DeFreitas, appeared in a British cricket magazine.
Continue reading ‘Australia Must Bat for Tamils by Considering Ban on Cricket with Sri Lanka’ »

By Anuradha Samuel

The letter sent by Matara District United National Party (UNP) parliamentarian, Mangala Samaraweera, to the Commonwealth Secretariat, requesting its intervention to investigate the impeachment proceedings against Chief Justice, Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake, had not had the approval of the party top command. According to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, this fact had been personally disclosed to him by UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, who had lamented that he had not known about Samaraweera’s letter to the Commonwealth.

Continue reading ‘Did Mangala Samaraweera Write to Commonwealth Secretariat Regarding Impeachment Issue Without the Approval of Ranil Wickremesinghe?’ »

By

Charitha Ratwatte

A conundrum is a confusing problem or a question that is very difficult to solve. Sri Lanka, in the view of some analysts, faces a conundrum in relation to three reports concerning the situation of the end of the civil war in May 2009.

Continue reading ‘Darusman,LLRC and Petrie:Three Reports on the End of War in Sri Lanka’ »

By Ashwin Hemmathagama

The Budget of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) for 2013 in accordance with Section 213 of the Municipal Council Ordinance was tabled yesterday by Mayor A.J. Mohamed Muzammil, seeking approval from members to spend Rs. 9,212.6 million in developing the city while showcasing a minimum revenue estimate of Rs. 9,213 million.

Continue reading ‘Colombo Mayor Muzammil Gets Funds for Building his “Dream City”Through Political Co-Existence”’ »

by Col R Hariharan

The walk out of Chief Justice Mrs Shirani Bandaranayake and her team of lawyers from a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) hearing on an impeachment motion against her Thursday was an eloquent testimony to the charade being enacted in Sri Lanka in the name of democracy. Probably it is a matter of time the PSC would find her guilty of the charges of corruption slapped against her.

Continue reading ‘Rajapaksa Inc Wants to get rid of 13th Amendment to Sri Lanka’s Constitution’ »

by Col R Hariharan

[Summary of answers to questions from media analysts on the occasion of V Prabhakaran’s birth day on November 26 and the LTTE’s Heroes Day on November 27 are given in this article.]

November 27 used to be celebrated as the Heroes Day by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). On this occasion what is your take on those who lost their lives in the struggle for Tamil Eelam?

Continue reading ‘Great Heroes Day of the LTTE and Current Situation of Sri Lankan Tamils’ »

By Hemantha Warnakulasuriya

The legal profession could be considered the foremost profession in Sri Lanka as its paramount duty is to safeguard the freedoms of the ordinary people by opposing tyranny and the oppressors of those cherished freedoms. Even when a lawyer appears for the most wanted criminal, he is performing his duty much to the consternation of those affected by the crime as well as the law enofrcement authorities. The defence of the freedom of the individual as against the State is one of the cornerstones of the profession.

Continue reading ‘Legal Profession must Safeguard Freedom of the People by Opposing Tyranny and Oppressors of Cherished Freedom’ »

By Dr.Janaka Ratnasiri

The Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS) is the premier organisation of Sri Lankan scientists covering all scientific disciplines. It holds its annual sessions where members present the results of their research for review by their peers. It is generally held in December each year and the venue is rotated among the university campuses. In the past, the sessions were held in Peradeniya, Colombo, Kelaniya, Gangodawila, Moratuwa, Nawala and Matara.

Continue reading ‘SLAAS Sessions Wont be Held at Jaffna University Due to Prevailing Tension’ »

By Sarath de Alwis

“The rot begins, when wild actions are received calmly by society. These are people that have lost the power of astonishment at their own actions. When they give birth to a fantastic passion or foolish law, they do not start or stare at the monster they have brought forth… These nations are really in danger of going off their heads en masse, of becoming one vast vision of imbecility.”

G. K. Chesterton—Mad Official

We the people have now been told by the Leader of the Opposition that our present constitution does not have three pillars of power. And we the people are not all astonished. As reported in The Island of Dec. 7 Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe has said: “Most people were saying here that there were three pillars of power but they are wrong.
Continue reading ‘Does Our Leader of the Opposition fit in With the Rulers or the People?’ »

By
C.V.Vivekananthan

In Sri Lanka, sovereignty is in the people’s hands. It is inalienable. Sovereignty includes the powers of government, fundamental rights and the franchise. The sovereign people promulgated the Constitution and thus the Constitution becomes supreme and the three Organs; Parliament, Executive Presidency and Judiciary that are created by the sovereign People by their Constitution can only exercise their respective powers subject to and according to the provisions of the Constitution.

Continue reading ‘Attacks of Character Assassination and Scurrilous Hand-outs Against Chief Justice’ »

A man from west London is on the run after being sentenced to six years in jail for smuggling garlic from China into the UK.

Murugasan Natarajan, and his assistant Lakshmi Suresh, were convicted of dodging £2m in import duty.

They had told customs officials that thousands of kilos of garlic were, in fact, fresh ginger, which is untaxed.

Continue reading ‘Garlic Labelled Ginger:British Customs Uncover Pungent Fraud’ »

by Priyadershini S

Sri Lankan-British singing sensation M.I.A will perform for the first time in India as part of the Kochi Muziris Biennale. She speaks to Priyadershini S. about her music rooted in dissent, politics, art, spirituality and India

M I A, Mathangi Maya Arulpragasam in Kochi for Kochi Muziris Biennale

She came rapping into the hearts of the young. Rapping about issues that the world would conveniently like to forget. Her original style of electronic, hip hop and world music caught the imagination of a generation wired together in cyberspace. Her strikingly fresh style in art engaged onlookers.
Continue reading ‘Singing Sensation M.I.A to Perform for First Time in India’ »

(Incident Report of National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka )

9th December 2012

A large mob including many Buddhist monks stormed the Jeevalokaya Sabhawa premises at Weeraketiya in Hambantota district where a Christian Congregation was gathered together for worship this morning(9th).

Continue reading ‘Mob Including Buddhist Priests Attacks Christian Place of Worship at Weeraketiya in Hambantota District’ »

(Following the conclusion of the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) proceedings, a cross-section of civil society members, trade unionists and political party members had this to say about the decision. The responses were Compiled by Ifam Nizam, Umesh Moramudali, Vyshnavy Velrajh and Amila Jayasinghe for “Ceylon Today”)

Continue reading ‘Cross Section of Public Opinion on Parliamentary Select Committee Proceedings Against Chief Justice’ »

By a “Ceylon Today”staff reporter

In a history-making moment, the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC), which probed 14 counts contained in an impeachment motion moved against Chief Justice, Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake, by the ruling coalition, has recommended her removal from office by holding her guilty of three out of five counts.

Continue reading ‘How Ex Parte Decision to Remove Shirani Bandaranayake as Chief Justice was Arrived at’ »

By Shirley Candappa

(On the November 29, 2012, after 65 long years the United Nations took a tentative step toward correcting a grave injustice committed against the people of Palestine when it recognised the State of Palestine . An overwhelming 138 voted for, with just nine against and 41 abstentions. The Daily Mirror interviewed Dr. Anwar H. Al Agha the Ambassador for Palestine after the historic vote).
Continue reading ‘International Community is Recognizing the State of Palestine-Palestine Envoy’ »

By M. S. Shah Jahan

Jacintha

“Hello, good morning, King Edward VII Hospital.” It was Tuesday 4th December 5.30 am of London time.

‘Oh, hello there. Could I please speak to Kate please, my granddaughter?’ “Oh yes, just hold on ma’am.”

Thinking she was speaking to the Queen, the woman who had been manning the hospital switchboard transferred the call to the Duchess of Cambridge’s ward and put the caller through to one of the nurses who was caring for the Duchess. The nurse also believed she was speaking to the Queen and went on to make a number of deeply personal observations about Kate’s health.
Continue reading ‘The Telephone Call ‘Hoax’ that Caused the Tragic Loss of an ‘Excellent’ Nurse’ »

Her glittering music career may have grabbed the headlines, but her new book, a vibrant collection of collages, photos and prints, reveals an artist of wide-ranging talents. Gillian Orr meets her

MIA ~ Mathangi Maya Arulpragasam ~ pic via: https://twitter.com/MIAuniverse

Coming off a long and gruelling tour at the beginning of 2011, the singer and artist M.I.A. decided to take stock of all the work she had dedicated the best part of her life to.
Continue reading ‘M.I.A ~ Mathangi Maya Arulpragasam: Singer, political activist and now an artist’ »

By Thulasi Muttulingam and Megara Tegal

Pix by Megara Tegal and Manjula Dayawansa

For the thriving industrial hub of a country, Colombo has not done too badly when it comes to tree cover. Old and massive trees take pride of place on many sidewalks and pavements; pavings, roads and walls have been built to accommodate their stately presence, in many areas.

Pedestrians and motorists alike might have to swerve round them but few complain. After all, they don’t lend only their shade. They also provide the city with a presence and personality that many people are appreciative of.
Continue reading ‘The ‘Ungreening’ of Colombo: Whither the Garden City?’ »

By Dilrukshi Handunnetti

From young days, the name Stratford-upon-Avon always held a certain fascination, and in adulthood, it continues to evoke a sense of wonder within me—primarily because this tiny Warwickshire village was home to the Great Bard.

It was not just his birthplace, but was where he lived, loved, wrote his marvellous tales and finally, where he was laid to rest. Stratford–upon-Avon, even today, is known for her greatest product, William Shakespeare.
Continue reading ‘Being Enthralled by the “Shakeapearience” at Stratford-upon-Avon’ »

By

MA Sumanthiran M.P.

Sri Lanka’s modern political system is largely a legacy of British colonialism. This legacy is reflected in the Parliamentary system of government that Sri Lanka inherited. With this system came the British political principle of Parliamentary Supremacy. Indeed this principle lies at the heart of the British political tradition.
Continue reading ‘“We do not Have the Concept of Supremacy of Parliament in This Country; In our Constitution the People are Sovereign”’ »

An Interview with Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema

Human rights lawyer and former head of Transparency International Sri Lanka, J. C. Weliamuna says the trial on the impeachment motion against Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake should be by an independent judiciary or tribunal. “We are following the Standing Orders rushed by J. R. Jayewardene to impeach Neville Samarakoon,” he said. Weliamuna noted that the judiciary was the last remaining institution that the executive could not control by a telephone call. “People need to come forward and stand to protect the judiciary. Otherwise there would be anarchy in the country,” he added.

Following are excerpts of the interview:

Continue reading ‘“Judiciary was Last Remaining Institution Which the Executice Could not Control with a Telephone Call” –JC Weliyamuna’ »

The Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) that probed the charges contained in the impeachment motion moved on Chief Justice, Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake yesterday (08) in its report submitted to Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa has found her guilty on charges 1, 4 and 5, and recommended there was strong evidence to removel of Dr. Bandaranayake from the Office of the Chief Justice.

Continue reading ‘Seven Govt MP’s on Parliamentary Select Committee Find Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake Guilty on Three Charges’ »

by Kumudini Hettiarachchi and Udumbara Udugama

There is a place in far off England dedicated to tiny Sri Lanka.

Vasantha at home in Kandy. Pic by M.A. Pushpa Kumara

‘Uda Walawe’ elephant habitat and walkway at Twycross Zoo in the English Midlands modelled on our very own Uda Walawe National Park brings into focus the Sri Lankan elephant in its natural habitat and also the reverence with which this majestic creature is held in the Asian subcontinent
Continue reading ‘Experiencing Sri Lanka’s Uda Walawe National Park Elephants in England.’ »

by
Dr.Nihal Jayawickrama

We do not seem to appreciate the fact that in this country it is the Constitution that is supreme; not the President, not Parliament; not the Judiciary, but the Constitution. It is explicitly stated in its preamble, that the Constitution is the supreme law of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. It means not only that every institution of government is subject to the Constitution, but also that all power flows only from the Constitution. The legislative power exercised by Parliament, the executive power exercised by the President, and the judicial power exercised by courts and other institutions established by law, are derived from, and defined by, the Constitution.

Continue reading ‘Parliamentary Select Committee is Not “a Court, Tribunal or Other Institution Created or Established by Law to Exercise Judicial Power”’ »

A Reflection by Bishop Duleep de Chickera

The recent tensions in Jaffna between university students and security personnel, in which a student protest was baton charged, a journalist assaulted and some students arrested and detained, centres around the freedom to remember the dead; whether loved ones, friends or heroes.

Continue reading ‘North or South We Have To Recognize That We Are The Keepers of Our Brothers and Sisters’ »

Mangala Samaraweera MP

The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) should evaluate the situation in Sri Lanka and report on whether the Government was keeping to its declared commitment to the Harare Principles of Democracy and the Rule of Law, UNP MP Mangala Samaraweera said yesterday.
Continue reading ‘Mangala Wants Commonwealth to Evaluate Sri Lanka as C’wealth Latimer Principles are Being Violated in Impeachment Process’ »

By Namini Wijedasa

Construction of the Sampoor coal power plant, already a year behind schedule, has been further delayed by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) which is asking India’s National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) to revise some crucial cost estimates.
Continue reading ‘India Frustrated About Sri Lanka’s Delaying Tactics Over Sampoor Coal Power Plant Construction’ »

By
Naushad Amit

In a bizarre move in school cricket both Royal and S. Thomas’ have decided to pull out of the current inter-school cricket tournament, run by the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association (SLSCA).

The SLSCA and officials from the Ministry of Education are set to meet tomorrow to discuss a national policy for school cricket.
Continue reading ‘Royal and S. Thomas’ pull out of school cricket tournament’ »

By
Kishali Pinto Jayawardene

Nowhere in South Asia or indeed the entire world (excepting in failed states) would a responsible government hire thugs and party supporters to jeer and hoot at the Chief Justice of the country while she was leaving the superior courts complex to appear before a parliamentary select committee considering her impeachment.

Yet in Sri Lanka, this is what happened a few days ago.

Continue reading ‘This is the Comprehensive End of Sri Lanka’s Judicial System’ »

By
S.L.Gunasekara

S.L. Gunasekera

(Senior Lawyer SL Gunasekara has written to Wijayadasa Rajapakshe President of Bar Association of Sri Lanka urging that a resolution be passed by the BASL asking members to refrain from accepting office as Chief Justice or acting chief Justice when the post falls vacant through impeachment of current incumbent. Text of the letter is as follows)

Dear Wijayadasa,

Impeachment Of Chief Justice

As you are presumably aware, I am not and was never an unqualified admirer of the Chief Justice. Indeed, I was one who publicly opposed her appointment as a Judge of the Supreme Court way back in 1996 and expressed my views forthrightly in a television `talk show’ on TNL.

At the same time I was and continue to be a supporter of the present Government, not because I have any illusions about it’s claims to perfection or competence etc but for the simple reason that I cannot see a credible alternative thereto or any persons/set of persons who is/are in any way suited to take over the reins of power from Mahinda Rajapakse and his government. That is solely by way of introduction.

Continue reading ‘Members of Bar Association Must Refrain From Accepting Office as Chief Justice After Impeachment of Shirani Bandaranayake’ »

by Women’s Action Network

(Text of a Statement of Concern by the Women’s Action Network)

Women’s Action Network (WAN), as a collective of 11 women’s groups from the North and the East, is deeply concerned by the recent efforts to recruit women into the military in the districts of Killinochchi and Mullaitheevu.
Continue reading ‘Young Tamil Women Made to Join Army Through Coercion and Deception’ »

by Tisaranee Gunasekara

“The first waves of a sea of fire….” – Ivo Andrić (The Bridge over the Drina)

The Rajapaksas, those Wonder-Brothers, have wrought another miracle. They have beaten Usain Bolt, hollow.

The impeachment of Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake deserves to enter the annals of world history and the Guinness Book of World Records as the fastest impeachment proceedings, ever.
Continue reading ‘Rajapaksas Turn Impeachment From a Constitutional Act Into a Political Chainsaw Massacre With Blood and Gore Galore’ »

6th December, 2012

We the undersigned, strongly condemn the arrest of four students of the University of Jaffna (UoJ) by the Terrorism Investigation Department (TID) on Thursday, November 29, 2012.

While welcoming the release of Kanesamoorthy Sutharsan, a student of the Jaffna Medical Faculty on the morning of Tuesday, December 4, we condemn the continued detention of the remaining three Jaffna University Student Union members: Sanmugam Solaman (24), Kanagasundram Jenamajenth, and Student Union Secretary Paramalingam Tharshaanan (24).
Continue reading ‘Statement Condemning the Arrest and Unlawful Detention of Four Students from the University of Jaffna, and Calling for their Immediate Release’ »

by M.A.Sumanthiran M.P.

M.A. Sumanthiran. Photo: R. Ragu

(Text of speech made in Parliament on 7th December 2012)

The other issue is also one of great concern to us, that of military rule. The Hon. Member was heard to talk of the Rule of Law. We don’t want military rule in any part of the country. Be it LTTE rule or even Sri Lankan Army rule. We want civilian rule.

We don’t want the Army rule, but there is a military rule that is being imposed upon our people and that is to be avoided.
Continue reading ‘‘We Dont Want Military Rule in any Part of the Country. We want Civilian Rule’’ »

by Rajavarothayam Sampanthan M.P.

(Text of speech made in Parliament on November 30th 2012)

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I am glad to be able to say a few words on the Votes of the Ministry of External Affairs. I do want to assure the Hon. Minister, who is a much beleaguered person, that what I do say I do not say in a spirit of confrontation, but I think it is our duty to bring to the notice of the Government various matters which we think are important.

Sir, we are all concerned with Sri Lanka and its international relations as of now and we are all concerned with its present standing within the international community.
Continue reading ‘The Govt Seems to be Obsessed with an Attitude of Indifference to the Views of Others’ »

by Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka

(On November 23rd, 2012, Ambassador Dayan Jayatilleka participated as a panelist at the International Symposium on Multilingualism in Cyberspace organized by Maaya -World Network for Linguistic Diversity. The three-day symposium took place at the CNRS -French National Centre for Scientific Research.This is the text of his intervention-presentation)

“In the earliest days of philosophy, there was a saying “As above, so below”, by which they meant as in the heavens, so also on earth.
Continue reading ‘The Absence of Multilingualism Consumed Tens of Thousands of Lives’ »

By
Mike Andree

A delegation of senior lawyers, headed by President’s Counsel and former Attorney-General C. R. De Silva met the President in a bid to resolve the ongoing crisis between the Judiciary and the Executive.

In order to peacefully settle this issue, so that both parties could come out of the controversy untarnished, the delegation pleaded that all malicious, defamatory and libellous propaganda, by the State media, should immediately stop so that a serene atmosphere, conducive to a peaceful settlement, be created.
Continue reading ‘Parliament is Supreme but Interpretation of Constitution is Exclusive Prerogative of Supreme Court’ »

by
Jaffna University Science Teachers’ Association

(Text of letter sent to President Mahinda Rajapaksa by the Jaffna University Science Teachers’ Association, University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka)

His Excellency the President,
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

Your Excellency,

Grave and dangerous plight of students at the University of Jaffna

We members of the university community in Jaffna feel constrained to write you directly in view of a deteriorating situation, where no official here seems to be able to deal with the problem or to adequately comprehend our concern.
Continue reading ‘Jaffna University Science Teachers’ Association Writes to President Rajapaksa over Dangerous Plight of Undergrads’ »

By Saman Indrajith

Thirty one of the 117 MPs who signed the motion of impeachment seeking the appointment of Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to investigate charges against Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake and recommended her removal from the position told the media yesterday that they wanted the PSC process to be expedited.

Minister S. B. Dissanayake addressing a press conference held at the Parliamentary Complex said that the signatories expected justice to prevail despite many attempts by the Opposition and anti-government elements to sabotage the PSC process.
Continue reading ‘Thirty one Signatories to Impeachment Motion Want it Expedited -SB Dissanayake’ »

(Text of letter by four opposition MP’s sent to Chairman of Parliamentary Select Committee on impeachment of Chief Justice)

7 December, 2012
The Chairman
Select Committee on the Chief Justice

Sir,

We the undersigned Members of the Select Committee wish to place on record the following matters:
Continue reading ‘Opposition MP’s on Select Committee Write Joint Letter to Chairman Anura P Yapa Prior to Withdrawal’ »

By Saliya Pieris PC

(Written by Saliya Pieris PC for and on behalf of the lawyers for the Chief Justice)

The Government Information Department has announced that the parliamentary select committee has called several witnesses to give evidence against the Chief Justice within the course of today going onto the night.

Until the Chief Justice and her counsel walked out of the Select Committee yesterday it was maintained by the Committee that no oral evidence will be led and despite our demands to cross examine the witnesses we were not given the list of witnesses or documents and were told that there will be no witnesses called.
Continue reading ‘Legal Team Appearing for Chief Justice Shocked!’ »

(text of a letter sent to Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa by the legal firm Neelakandan and Neelakandan representing chief justice Shirani Bandaranayake)

Kotte.

Honourable Sir,

We are instructed by our Client, Hon. Dr. Shirani A. Bandaranayake.

As you are no doubt aware, our Client has withdrawn from the proceedings of the Select Committee and the reasons have been given.
Continue reading ‘Lawyers Write to Speaker on Behalf of Chief Justice Seeking Deferment of Select Committee Proceedings’ »

By
International Commission of Jurists

(text of media communique issued by ICJ)

The impeachment process against Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake ignores international standards and practice, says the International Commission of Jurists(ICJ).

The ICJ urges the government of Sri Lanka to take immediate steps to uphold the independence of the judiciary and adhere to international standards and practice on the removal of judges.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Chief Justice’s Impeachment Hearing Violates Due Process’ »

By

Gagani Weerakoon

The entire Opposition walked out of the Chamber en mass, protesting the unfair process of the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) appointed to probe allegations mentioned in the impeachment motion against Chief Justice, Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake. The MPs of the United National Party (UNP), the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) walked out of the chamber around 3:35 p.m., even as those in government ranks loudly accused them of orchestrating a plot hatched outside Parliament.

Continue reading ‘Entire Opposition Walks out of Parliament Protesting Against Unfair Impeachment of Chief Justice Process’ »

By Veerasingham Anandasangaree

(text of a letter sent by Veerasingham Anandasangaree, Secretary-General of Tamil United Liberation Front to President Mahinda Rajapaksa)

Being a true patriot who loves his country and all the people in it, I have a sacred duty to bring to your notice, the disturbing trend in the country that may sooner or later precipitate a big crisis. The country expects every citizen to put his or her interest in the country above all the other interests, one may have.

Continue reading ‘“Please Do Not Allow Anyone to Meddle With the 13th Amendment -Sangaree Writes to Mahinda’ »

by Tisaranee Gunasekara

“….Cicero’s tongue will have to be torn out, Copernicus’s eyes gouged out, and Shakespeare stoned. That is my system.”
Dostoyevsky (The Possessed)

With the speed of lightening and without as much as a nano-ripple, the Rajapaksa regime removed Neville Gunawardana, the ‘crime-busting’ Director General of the Customs.

Mr. Gunawardana had commenced an investigation into the alleged illegal doings of nine dummy-companies; a warehouse in Gampaha was raided and sealed.
Continue reading ‘Once Namal Rajapaksa PC is appointed chief justice, eternal harmony will dawn Between the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary, all Headed by Rajapaksas’ »

On the 20th November 2012, a section of the media reported that Mr. Ajith Prasanna, a member of the Southern Provincial Council from the ruling alliance (UPFA), called for the legalization of sex-work (prostitution) to boost tourism in the country. While sex work as such is not criminalised in Sri Lanka, soliciting sex in public and maintaining of brothels are illegal.

Continue reading ‘Statement on Condemning the Attack on Sharmila Seyyid on her Opinion on Legalising Sex-work’ »

(Text of a Media Release issued by the Colombo Lawyer’s Collective)

Today the Chief Justice of Sri Lanka Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake walked out of the Parliamentary Select Committee in protest in the face of hostile and biased conduct of the government members of the PSC so as to ensure the dignity of the judiciary of Sri Lanka. The Chief Justice reiterates that she is innocent of the false charges made against her and is always willing to face any impartial tribunal in order to vindicate herself.

Continue reading ‘Shirani Bandaranayake Ready to Face Any Impartial and Lawful Tribunal but Not one Steeped in Partiality and Hostility Towards Her’ »

After the special Parliamentary select Committee convened today to hear the impeachment inquiry, at 2.30 pm, the chief Justice (CJ) and her lawyers staged a walk out in protest.

PC Romesh De Silva the chief of the panel of Lawyers for the CJ addressing the Committee said , they have no faith in this Select Committee ,before staging the walk out.
Continue reading ‘Chief Justice Walks out with her Lawyers After Insulting Remarks of Weerawansa and Dilan Perera’ »

by
Stewart Bell

A Sri Lankan opposition politician said Wednesday he wanted his government to investigate allegations that an army officer now in Canada had been ordered to plant a bomb at his residence during the island nation’s civil war.

M.K. Sivajilingam said he had no trouble believing the former Sri Lanka Army captain, who has told Canadian immigration authorities his colonel had instructed him to leave explosives at the home of the controversial Tamil parliamentarian in 2008.

Continue reading ‘Ex-MP Sivajilingam Wants Canadian Police to Probe Sri Lankan Army Plot to Kill Him’ »

By Harim Peiris

As the Rajapaksa Presidency pushes ahead with its the impeachment of the Chief Justice, UNP and Opposition leader Ranil Wickramasinghe pulled off his own coup within the UNP. He convened a party convention which met on December 1st, amended its constitution to ensure that the UNP elects its leader only once in six years and not annually as at present.

Photo by Christopher Dilts for Obama for America

He also succeeded in according to himself the right to appoint the all the office bearers in the Party, with some minimal concurrence of the UNP’s Working Committee.
Continue reading ‘Lessons From Obama Victory in USA for Ranil to Win the Presidential Poll in Sri Lanka’ »

Kithsiri Wijesinghe Interviews JC Weliyamuna

Speaking to JDS, he shruged off threats as a less important matter. ‘I rose from humble beginnings in rural down south to become a professional.

It’s my duty to stay and fight’ he says.

In 2010, he was elected to the Board of Directors of the Berlin based Transparency International. Currently he serves as a convener of the Lawyers for Democracy (LfD), apart from playing an active role at the forefront of the human rights movement in the island.)

Excerpts from the interview follow:
Continue reading ‘‘Entire State Mechanism is Basically Organized to Crush any Sort of Dissent’’ »

By Gagani Weerakoon

The four opposition MPs nominated to the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) appointed to probe the charges against Chief Justice, Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake, warned they would walk out of the Committee, if there is no fair trial.

Continue reading ‘Opposition MP’s Threaten to Walk out of Parliamentary Select Committee Probing Chief Justice’ »

by Taylor Dibbert

On December 1, Enrique Peña Nieto of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) assumed the Mexican presidency amid a flurry of protests against the party, whose previous 70-year rule defined the country’s authoritarian past.

Mexico’s newly sworn-in President, Enrique Pena Nieto, waves to the audience after delivering his inaugural speech at the National Palace in Mexico City on Saturday ~ AP pic ~ courtesy of: The Hindu

Yet it’s difficult to imagine that the new president’s term could be worse than the unmitigated disaster of his predecessor’s, which was marked by a dramatic militarization of Mexico’s drug war, widespread human rights abuses, and tens of thousands of deaths.
Continue reading ‘Enrique Pena Nieto and a Change in Security Policy for Mexico’s Drug War’ »

The legal firm Neelakandan and Neelakandan has on the instructions of Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake written to “Sunday Observer” refuting allegations of financial impropriety made in an article published on December 2nd 2012.The text of the letter is as follows –

Continue reading ‘Chief Justice Refutes Slanderous Article Published in “Sunday Observer” About Alleged Financial Impropriety’ »

The Chief Justice (CJ) of a country is the highest judicial officer in the land. From such a person, it is fair for the public to expect a standard of conduct that is above reproach. As a result, the CJ would be expected to display the highest degree of honesty and integrity.

Even if the CJ may be prone to a bona- fide mistake on a rare occasion (like all human beings), deliberate and conscious misconduct or misdemeanour cannot ever be a part of a CJ’s conduct.
Continue reading ‘State Controlled ‘Sunday Observer’ Accuses Chief Justice of Financial Impropriety’ »

By Dharisha Bastians

“Democracy demands an opposition party” – Ben Manski, American Lawyer and political activist.

The events of 23 November when Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake made her very first appearance before the Parliamentary Select Committee were not lost on the ruling administration. Round one had presented a clear winner and elicited mass sympathy for the lady who had fallen foul of the powers that be.

Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake receives blessings of Buddhist monks and Christian clergy in Colombo on Monday before appearing before a parliamentary committee- AP pic ~ courtesy of: The Hindu

So when the time came for the country’s most senior judge to answer the summons of the Legislative Committee in the second round, necessary arrangements were presumably put in place.

Continue reading ‘Shirani Bandaranayake Becoming Symbol of Resistance Against Rajapaksa Regime’ »

by Kath Noble

We really should have learned by now that suppressing the peaceful activities of young people, however much we disagree with them, never actually works. There are always repercussions.

Continue reading ‘It is Clear That the Powers-that-be in Jaffna Have no Idea About Appropriate Behaviour.’ »

By

Charitha Ratwatte

A politician has gone on record labelling the regime to which he belongs as a ‘People’s Dynasty’. He has said: “It is a dynasty, but by people’s choice. A people’s dynasty.” The context was in that of a regime of centralised decision making which would further speed up in economic development.

The example was held out of countries in which there is “immediate decision making by one person”. It seemed to be the claim that where such steam rolling of speedy decision making takes place, economic
development will follow, similar to night following day.
Continue reading ‘Past and Present:Mughal Dynasty of India and Sri Lanka’s “Dynasty By People’s Choice”’ »

by Ajith Samaranayake

Maestro W.D.Amaradeva

(December 5th 2012 is the 85th birthday of Maestro W.D.Amaradeva. This article by Ajith Samaranayake appearing in the “Sunday Observer” of January 10th 1999 was written to celebrate the Doyen of Sinhala music receiving an honorary doctorate from the University of Peradeniya on December 29th 1998. It is reproduced here as a birthday tribute to the man who gave tongue to a nation’s soul)

Last year ended on a note of epiphany at the University of Peradeniya. December 29 as the day of the general convocation, for the graduates the highpoint of their academic life. There were also three eminent men who received honorary doctorates that evening in the sylvan groves of academe.
Continue reading ‘Amaradeva at 85: Giving tongue to a nation’s soul’ »

By
Tisaranee Gunasekara

Gotabhaya Rajapaksa does not hesitate to cavort where men less well-connected fear to tread even gingerly. As Defence Secretary and President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s younger brother, he has no need to mind his language. His verbal outbreaks are of the highest political relevance since they provide invaluable glimpses into the opaque mental universe of the Rajapaksas.

So when Gotabhaya Rajapaksa repeatedly advocates immediately repealing the 13th Amendment, attention must be paid.
Continue reading ‘Rajapaksas Indulging in “Strategically Blind Maximalism” in Pursuing Absolute Power’ »

(Text of Outgoing Ambassador Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka’s Farewell speech to the Sri Lankan community in France at a civic reception hosted by the Ambassador and madam Sanja Jayatilleka the Embassy Premises in Paris on November, 30th, 2012)

Ambassador Jayatilleka and Madam Jayatilleka say farewel to Sri Lankan community in France

“This event is the commencement of my process of transition. I have begun my farewell with this gathering of friends from the Sri Lankan community in Paris because my wife Sanja and I shall be leaving France, somewhere early in the New Year in January. My two year term has come to an end or will come to an end in January.
Continue reading ‘It was not My Job to Identify Myself With or Serve One Political Party, Faction, Family, Religious Denomination or Linguistic Community While Representing My Country’ »

by M.S.Shah Jahan

“With all respect, every day, thousands of people die, but still the world moves on. Just due to one politician died a natural death, everyone just goes bonkers. They should know, we are resilient by force, not by choice.

When was the last time, did anyone showed some respect or even a two-minute silence for Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Azad, Sukhdev or any of the people because of whom we are free-living Indians? Respect is earned, given, and definitely not forced. Today, Mumbai shuts down due to fear, not due to respect.”- Shaheen Dadha.
Continue reading ‘Shiv Sena Goondas Erupt Over Facebook Comments About Bal Thackeray’s Funeral’ »

by Prof.Rajiva Wijesinha M.P.

(I had been asked to speak on the votes of the Ministry of External Affairs during the Committee Stage of the Budget Debate, but was subsequently told that there was no time for this. Since I had prepared a text, which I felt discussed urgent issues in the current context, I thought it would be useful to make this available instead of forgetting about the points raised.)

In the current context, Mr Speaker, it is an urgent necessity to register the importance of budgetary provision for our Ministry of External Affairs, and I am honoured to have been asked to speak on this subject.
Continue reading ‘Elements in the External Affairs Ministry Trying to Prejudice the Country Against India’ »

Text and Pix by Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai

“Kaarthigai” is a month of purity and devotion.

Women devotees light lamps and take part in religious rituals – pics ~ via: http://twitter.com/DushiYanthini

There is a story linked between “Kaarthigai” and lamps according to religious references. Brahma- The Creator, and Vishnu- The Preserver had a dispute between them as to who was greater, and who was the supreme. The Lord Shiva wanted to teach them the truth. He appeared before them in a form of huge column of fire.
Continue reading ‘Kaarthikai Theepam Festival Where Light Triumphs Over Dark’ »

by
MA Sumanthiran M.P.

November 27, 2012 was a busy day for the Government of Sri Lanka. Government agents prohibited routine rituals in temples across the North and East, attacked and arrested peacefully assembled university students, invaded a female hostel, beat a newspaper editor, vandalized the vehicle of a Member of Parliament, abused political prisoners in captivity, injured a journalist and several University Media students, patrolled a cemetery, and found time to scout private properties so as to extinguish lamps lighted for the Hindu festival of lights Karthiaai Vilakkeedu.

What could spark such drastic measures? On November 27, 2012 all it took was a lamp.
Continue reading ‘Karthiaai Vilakkeedu, Maaveerar Naal and the Lighting of Lamps in Jaffna’ »

By

Mohammed Naalir

The Tourism industry has started to bloom resulting with the elimination of the LTTE conflict. The Government targets to generate 500,000 direct and indirect employments in the tourism industry by 2016. Livelihood and economic development are the main focus of developing the tourism industry in the North and East.

Continue reading ‘Community Based Tourism Project Between Nandhikkadal and Naayaaru Lagoons in Mullaitheevu District’ »

by N. Sathiya Moorthy

Announcing the filing of defamation suits against two Tamil newspapers published from Jaffna, an Army statement had this to say – and rightly so: “Just as much the Army is not above the law, we are not below the law either, and we will fight vigorously to protect the good name of the Army and our heroic soldiers.”

The court suits are for damages to the tune of SLR 100 million each. They stand in the name of Army Chief, Lt. Gen. Jagath Jayasuriya.

Continue reading ‘Army “Fights” Two Jaffna Newspapers Through Legal Means’ »

By

Jayantha Sri Nissanka

More and more incriminating evidence of summary executions of inmates in the Welikada Prison by the Police Special Task Force (STF) and a special police unit (SPU) that took place after the army commandos took full control of the prison on the night of November 9 have now been revealed, despite an officially sanctioned cover up of the massacre.
Continue reading ‘Eye-witnesses say 11 Prisoners were Taken out of Cells and Summarily Executed by Police Special Task Force at Welikada’ »

By S L Gunasekara

Sri Lanka has been plagued by Provincial Councils (PCs) for the past 24 years. The debate about whether the 13th Amendment which gave birth to these Provincial Councils should remain or not continues and has now gained some momentum with proposals being made by persons who are supposedly influential that it should be repealed.

What is interesting to note in the ongoing debate is that hardly anything that is said on either side has changed in any significant manner despite the bitter experience we have had with these `White Elephants’.
Continue reading ‘Provincial Councils are White Elephants That Must Go Together with the 13th Amendment’ »

By Telles Anandappa

The Supreme Court this week ordered a local council in Jaffna to remove name boards of a village after residents claimed that the name would represent one caste only and thus create disharmony.The directive was issued to the Valikamam West Pradeshiya Sabha, in the Vaddukoddai electorate after 10 villagers filed a fundamental rights petition.

The original name of the village as seen in the sub post office name board
Continue reading ‘Supreme Court orders Removal of Boards Changing Village Name From Sivankovilady to Sinthupuram’ »

The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) was forced to put on hold a decision to re-name 57th lane in Wellawatte as ‘Colombo Tamil Sangam Lane’ in recognition of a well known cultural centre along the road, after Western Province Chief Minister Prasanna Ranathunga said he was revoking permission he had given earlier for the name change.

The Chief Minister said he had received petitions, from four residents in Wellawatta who objected to the date, November 25, for the ceremony to rename the road.
Continue reading ‘Why Re-naming 57th Lane in Wellawatte as Colombo ‘Tamil Sangam Lane’ was Put Off’ »

by Smriti Daniel

(Smriti Daniel speaks to an artist with a creative obsession, Mahen Chanmugam, whose third exhibition Ganeshism 3, a celebration of Lord Ganesh in art is on at the Barefoot Gallery until Dec. 16.)

Enter Mahen Chanmugam’s house and you will find it impossible to escape the scrutiny of Lord Ganesh.
Continue reading ‘Mahen Chanmugam: Under the Gaze of ‘Aanaimugan’ Lord Ganesh’ »

By Shalomi Daniel

Navaranjini Olegasegarem

(The only Sri Lankan on the Australian Music Examiners Board in New South Wales, Navaranjini Olegasegarem, who was back home on a holiday, discusses how she has learnt to harmonise two passions in life, music and medicine)

Five-year-old Navaranjini was too small to reach the piano keys and had to be carried up on to the piano stool. Today, Florence Navaranjini Olegasegarem keeps the Sri Lankan flag flying high on distant shores, as the only Sri Lankan on the Australian Music Examiners Board in New South Wales.
Continue reading ‘Navaranjini Olegasegarem: Well Known Singer Blessed With a Beautiful Voice’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene

This week, a committed New Delhi based civil rights advocate and incidentally a good friend, observed in a dispassionate aside to an otherwise entirely different conversation in that country that ‘this situation that Sri Lankans are facing regarding the political impeachment of the Chief Justice is quite alien for us to grasp here, even in the abstract.

How could checks and balances in your constitutional and legal system break down to that terrible extent?

Even with the war and all its consequences, how could the centre of judicial authority implode with such astounding force?’
Continue reading ‘Open Contempt is Shown for the Judiciary with Full Backing of the Govt’ »

(Text of a statement issued by the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development in response to a news story published in the Canadian Newspaper “National Post” that was posted on www.dbsjeyaraj.com blog under the heading “Sinhala Army Capt Testifies in Canada About Order to Plant Explosives at TNA Ex-MP Sivajilingam’s House”)

Through out the course of the conflict in Sri Lanka both internal and external forces that lay allegiance to the separatist agenda and the terrorist outfit have come up with various allegations to bring discredit to country in the international fora. It does not come as a surprise and it is not something new. Because of the LTTE’s unambiguous use of terrorism, more than thirty nations listed it as a terrorist organization including America and the European Union.

Continue reading ‘“Lie of a Desperate Man to Stake a Claim for Refugee Status in Canada” – Defence Ministry’ »

by Zacki Jabbar

A triumphant UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe having secured a new six year term at yesterday’s 54th annual convention, held at Sirikotha called for a halt to the infighting and unity among the membership to oust what he termed the corrupt and dictatorial Mahinda Rajapaksa regime.

Continue reading ‘Ranil Wickremesinghe Wins New 6 Year Leadership Term with 4978 Against 337 Votes at UNP Convention’ »

By Chitra Weerarathne

The Supreme Court yesterday fixed the hearing of the reference from the Court of Appeal for December 13 and 14, 2012 and directed the Registrar of the Court to notify the respondents of the dates fixed for the hearing.

Continue reading ‘Supreme Court Goes Ahead with Appeal Court Reference Despite Speaker Ruling on Impeachment Motion’ »

By Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga

The last few months have seen several attempts at interference with the proper functioning of the judiciary. The Mannar incident, the unprecedented statement of the Judicial Service Commission, the physical attack on the Secretary of the JSC who released the statement on the direction of the JSC, use of State media to attack the judiciary, especially the Chief Justice, and now a Motion to impeach the Chief Justice.

A Member of Parliament who submitted the motion to the Speaker has publicly stated that the reason for the impeachment motion is the Supreme Court’s determination on the Divineguma Bill.
Continue reading ‘By Protecting the Judiciary we Protect Ourselves and our Freedoms’ »

By Dharisha Bastians

All laws including the Parliamentary Power and Privileges Act should be interpreted subject to the Constitution, Constitutional Lawyer and former Executive Director, Transparency International Sri Lanka, J. C. Weliamuna said yesterday.

Continue reading ‘Anura Bandaranaike Ruling on Sarath Silva Impeachment is not a Binding Precedent -JC Weliyamuna’ »

By Tisaranee Gunasekara

“…..to not to be a fanatic means to be, to some extent and in some way, a traitor in the eyes of the fanatic”. Amos Oz (How to cure a fanatic)

What if after the defeat of the JVP insurgency, the Premadasa administration prevented Sinhala families from mourning their JVP-dead? What if every commemorative activity from the political to the religious was banned? What if Buddhists monks were told to stop preaching sermons (bana) and accepting alms (dane) on behalf of dead JVPers?

Would such measures have caused reconciliation or a renewal of hatred?

Continue reading ‘Sinhala Supremacists Think They Can Use Rajapaksas to Achieve Their Racist “Utopia”’ »

by Kamaya Jayatissa

(Kamaya Jayatissa participated at the French-Sri Lankan Diaspora Youth Workshop “Post-War Reconciliation Dialogue for a Sustainable Peace”, which took place in Paris, on October 27th, 2012. She intervened as a panelist on the theme “Individual and collective identity(ies): between search and struggle”.

The event was organized by What’s Next!, an independent forum comprising of post-graduates and young professionals of Sri Lankan origin residing in France. What’s Next! seeks to promote a sustainable peace in Sri Lanka through intellectual exchange and multicultural dialogue)

Continue reading ‘An Idealistic Yet Feasible Approach to Build a Sri Lankan Identity Would be to Create and Maintain an Inclusive Society’ »

By Stewart Bell

An officer in the Sri Lanka Army, who fled to Canada and claimed he was ordered to plant explosives at the home of an outspoken opposition politician, is raising new questions about military abuses committed during the island nation’s long civil war.

Passport photo of Ravindra Watudura Bandanage, who was a captain in the Sri Lanka Army until he fled to Canada and deserted. He has told immigration officials the army ordered him to place a bomb in the home of a Tamil Member of parliament in Sri Lanka. / Federal Court of Canada

Captain Ravindra Watudura Bandanage, 38, deserted after flying to Toronto in October 2009.
Continue reading ‘Sinhala Army Capt Testifies in Canada About Order to Plant Explosives at TNA Ex-MP Sivajilingam’s House’ »

by Sajith Premadasa M.P.

(Speech made by the Deputy Leader of the United National Party and Member of Parliament, Sajith Premadasa, at the seminar on ‘Justice for Palestine’ held at the BMICH on 28 November, to mark UN International Day of Solidarity with Palestine and to Commemorate the 8th Death Anniversary of President Yasser Arafat.)

Let me first express my sincere gratitude to the organizers of this unique gathering for bestowing me this opportunity to express my observations on the greatest tragedy of our times: deprivation of a nation state for the Palestinian people.

Continue reading ‘Deprivation of a Nation State for the Palestinian People is the Greatest Tragedy of our Times’ »

(Chairman of SupremeSat, R.M. Manivannan , in a post-launch interview answers some pertinent questions about the final few hours before the launch of Sri Lanka’s first satellite, government support, and geo-political concerns)

Question: Are you relieved now that the launch was successful?

Answer: Yes. The last few days especially after the initial launch target date was delayed, our team was undergoing severe stress to perform.
Continue reading ‘Successful Launch of Sri Lanka’s First Satellite: An Interview with SupremeSat Chairman RM Manivannan’ »

by R. M. B. Senanayake

I refer to Mr. S. Rasalingam’s response to my article on devolution to be based on language. He disagrees with my interpretation of the origin of the conflict. He makes out that the opposition to the Sinhala only policy was not a demand of the Tamil people but a handle used by the Tamil leaders to manipulate the Tamil people. I would say it was used to mobilise Tamil nationalism.

Continue reading ‘The Nation State was Equated with Sinhala Buddhists’ »

by Dr.Reeza Hameed

There is no basis in the Sri Lanka Constitution for the proposition that the Sri Lanka Parliament is sovereign. It is neither sovereign nor supreme.

Parliamentary sovereignty in England

The doctrine of parliamentary sovereignty has its roots in the legal theory developed by A V Dicey in relation to English constitutional law. It implied that there is no higher law to retrain Parliament from making- or unmaking- any law. It also implied that the Courts are obliged to give effect to the laws passed by Parliament.

Continue reading ‘The Parliament in Sri Lanka is Neither Sovereign nor Supreme’ »

by Sunanda Deshapriya

Minister Wimal Weerawansa, nicknamed as the ‘eldest son of the President’, during the 2010 presidential election campaign, came up with a rather serious proposal some two months back: To have a referendum to abolish the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, the constitutional chapter that deals with devolution of power. Sinhala extremist parties and groups immediately expressed their support to the proposition, and some Colombo-based media still write editorials emphasizing the need for the abolition of 13 A. The suggestion does not merely convey the removal of 13th Amendment; but also means the elimination of devolution of powers, as a concept, from Sri Lankan politics.

Continue reading ‘How Wimal Weerawansa Will Help Tamil Diaspora Have Referendum in North-East’ »

by E.Saravanapavan M.P.

November 27th is the Tamil Eelam Liberation Tigers’ Heros Day on which day people offer their commemoration to the demised warriors.

It is customary for people to pay their respect to the deceased on such days. This salutation offered to their blood brothers, relations and parents has been mercilessly suppressed by the forces.
Continue reading ‘Attack on Jaffna Undergraduates by Army and Police: An Eye-witness Account by a MP’ »

by Mahendran Thiruvarangan

Remembering the past, its struggles and the actors and agents who advanced those struggles as a community is a key political act inextricably linked to our political journeys in the present. The past and the memories associated with it speak about our historical progress into the present, and therefore we tend to preserve the past in the form in which the past and its agents presented the past to us in the past.

On other occasions, the voids of disillusionment and defeat into which the past leaves us often invoke romantic and illusory pictures of the past. As a result, we often desire to see the present to mirror the past without change or contamination.
Continue reading ‘Mainstream Tamil politics has not resolved important questions about the LTTE, its ideology and its political strategies.’ »

By

Gagani Weerakoon

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa unreservedly rejected notices served on him and members of the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) probing the charges mentioned in the impeachment motion against Chief Justice, Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake, and declared they were “a nullity and entail no legal consequences.”

Delivering his ruling last evening on a privilege issue raised by Leader of the House, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, in the morning, the Speaker said: “On careful consideration of this matter, I wish to convey to the House, my ruling that the notices issued on me, as Speaker of Parliament, and on the Members of the Select Committee appointed by me, have no effect whatever and are not recognized in any manner.”

Continue reading ‘Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa Rejects Court Notices Saying They Are “a nullity and entail no legal consequences”’ »

By
Usha S Sriskandarajah

The internal probe commissioned to examine the conduct of the United Nations during the final months of the war in Sri Lanka with a view to putting its house in order is to be commended for being forthright about UN’s own failures.

However it’s findings must also be seen as a scathing indictment on the Rajapaksa Government’s conduct of the war; the revelations contained in it conclusively making the case for the genocidal state to be put in the dock, indicating that the time has come for its senior political and military leaders and President Mahinda Rajapaksa to be hauled before the International Criminal Court and tried for genocide.
Continue reading ‘UN Internal Review Panel’s findings during the final months of the war in Sri Lanka: An Analysis’ »

by

Tisaranee Gunasekara

“We can neither ignore the catastrophes that affect us nor simply leave their solution to others”
Orhan Pamuk (For Rushdie)

Hours after Sri Lanka became a satellite-owning nation, a train collided with a three-wheeler at an unprotected railway-crossing in Ambanpola, killing 6 people, including 4 children.

There are around 900 unprotected railway-crossings in Sri Lanka, which cause several accidents a month. According to railway authorities protective measures are not possible at these death-traps due to lack of funds.
Continue reading ‘Rajapaksa Kith and Kin Will be Able to Commit any Crime Without Ever Being Punished’ »